Curtain stretcher



Dec. 3, 1940.

H. ROSENTHAL CURTAIN STRETCHER Fild Dec. :50, 1937 V 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 DH. ROSENTHAL 2,223,462

CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed Dec. 30, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 wiy flaw/225%!Dec. 3,1940.

H. ROSENTHAL CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed Dec. 30, 1937 4 sheets-sheet 5 Dec.3, 1940. H. ROSENTHAL CURTAIN STRETQHER Filed Dec. 50, 1937 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 3, 1940 PATENT oFFicE oUItrams'mETonERHarry Rosenthal, Assistant; fiat-tater 30, 1937', seen N; mains 8Claims; (o1. 3440i f i 't jrl ceti a le e v, to ce ta n s re h n a ddryin a parat s m re pa ticularl to t pb ratts s. character font nunerie Worcle n n Esta i h n s W er u te hd ired All QKl-V and te n h:ls e t hraa ldr curta n ei nlar e uan.t.. t s nd the. inv ntion ha r a oect lc s iqn mpl iab n hly efficient apnara ,or,th. .s. character. r

t t 9 t eset urtai rstr tch nslnd dr ing dtr eesand a aratu havehe i tcq e ma tra: Yideqrm ny Qflwhic eareadap ed o at iustrnen tartc yc. cu n.of yariws izesan so 9 to provide a curtain stretching and drying appa25 ratuslwhich is inexpensive to manufacture, which may be easily and.quickly operated by unskilled persons; and which is adaptedfor.receiving at one time, a plurality of curtains.

It is the further object of this invention to provide a curtainstretching; frame which is readilyadjustable to receive curtains ofvarious sizes v'vhichat all times'maintains in correct alignment theedges of. the curtain and in which z the adjustable parts of the frameare effectively 35 counterbalanced. r i

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in which avarying number of curtain stretching frames may be employed for a asimultaneous drying operation, the organization 40 of the apparatusbeing such that additional frames may be installedwhen desired. Incarryingoutthe invention in one form, a supporting frame is providedwhich includes a plurality of channel-shaped members arranged inoppositely disposed spaced relation to form vertical tracks for aplurality or curtain stretching frames. An;insulated drying chamberencloses the upper portion of the vertical tracks and is provided withinlet and outlet means for effecting uniform circulation of drying airthrough the chamber,; the lower wall ofjthe chamber having an qpenilthrough which the curtain stretching t... ira e, may e ed in o and. out'f-th the e 83 her, the opening being substantially closed when all ofthelfra'mes' are in their u permost p sitron within the chamber. H p 2 V2 The curtain stretching frames are adapted for vertical movement iiithe tracks formed by the channel members, and in orderto provide for 5easy assembly of the frames" in the tracks each frame is preferably ofaflength less than the Width at its track. Accorqingiyonend of eachframe may be inserted into thechannel member s forming one side or thetrack and the fr ame it) ali "ed ereiipon the otheijnd of a" g ofcurtain and, securing means exten ing r fon'esl'de and one end' of theframe, or ref 'eeivnig qii edge and one endt'tthe bur to pe stretchea;bf tlhlefid members o'fthe frarrfe is grooved to receive ene erid or atanjiistabl u'i'ta'ifi receivirig bar upon which the opposite edge'offjtlie turtam is attested to be secured; and m ans ar provided rt rconstantly iii'taifiiiig e a;a usta 1e bar in paraua relation' to the*fdes of the frame, suittime latch mea t-ein'gprovidedittr lockirigthe.bjar se L, "s'itiqns corresponding t0- the Width Of the .toibestretche pby any "0 tier prbpejrl'y tens apart; t eremaimng tend of th curtain tobe stretched; another curtainrec member is provided, the end portions itor win 11' are arrange to engage suitably torched 35.

m mbers or matesextending along the upper an qwersiaes or theifr'ame,certain of the notc es beingobliquelyarral ed to thattheforce exert d onthe curtain suppt' tmgiri ember by the curt in fios'itivly retains. themem er in' the notches. 40

In order further to provide for easy adjustment of the, frame ,todifferent size curtains, counter-'- weights are provided forfacilitating movement of the adjustable curtain-receiving bar and theframes themselves'arecounterweighted to facilitate movend'entlof theframes along their vertical tracks. j p x t Fora more completeunderstanding of the invention reference. should now be had to thedrawings, in which; r

.Figure l'is an elevational View of a curtain stretching and dryingapparatus embodying the inv hti'o abortion of the drying chamber beingbr way more clearly to illustrate the constructidfial details;

ber adapted to be used interchangeably with the member shown in Fig. 4;I

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective View of the latch means for theadjustable curtain-receive ing bar, the section .throughthebarbeingtaken substantially along the line 6 S of Fig. 1';

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view.

taken along the line of Fig. 1; a

Fig. 8 is a similar detail sectional view taken along the line 8-8 ofFig. l;

Fig. 9 isa similarfragmentary sectional view taken along the line 99 ofFig. 1

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view taken'along the line lii lil of Fig.8; and j I v v Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective View illustrating aconstructional detail of one of the curtain-receiving frames. I

Referring now to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the inventionis shown as comprising a curtain stretching and drying apparatus havinga drying chamber l0 mounted ata predetermined height above a rigid basemember or floor II on 'a supporting frame which includes side members 12and I3 secured to the base H by suitable angle irons 14. As shown, theside members l2 and I3 comprise panels or wall membersjjfFigs. 8 and 9)which'extend only to the'bottom of the drying chamber Ill, and aplurality of U-shaped channel members 15 and I6 which extend upwardlyfrom the top of the panel members to a point adjacent the top of thedrying chamber and which are braced by suitable members II'.

The channel members l5 and I6 are arranged in oppositely'disposedrelation with the flanges thereof facing inwardly so that each of thechannels l5 cooperates with one of the channels IE to provide a.vertical track for slidably guiding one of the curtain stretchingframes indicated generally by the reference numeral l8 for movement intoand out of the drying chamber I0 through an opening in the lower wallthereof. The curtain stretching frames IS, the constructional details ofwhich will be fully described hereinafter, may be moved between alowermost; position shown in Fig. 2, in which position curtains mayreadily be applied to the frames, and an uppermost position shownin Fig.3 in which position the curtains are subjected to a drying action withinthe chamber It.

As shown, the chamber H3 is provided with insulatingwalls whichpreferably include outer panels l'9,(Figs. l and 7) formed of Sheetmetal or other suitable'material, and inner panels 20 formed of suitableheat insulating material spaced from the panels l9 to provide dead airspaces therebetween. Although any suitable means may be employed fordrying the ;curt'ains within the chamber ID, the drying action ispreferably accomplished by means of a forced circulation of drying airover the curtains within the chamber. Thus the chamber H), as shown, isprovided with an'inlet "Z lin the lower portion of the right-hand,

wall, and an air-impelling means such as a fan 22 having air directingvanes 23 is arranged in the inlet for forcing air into the chamber anddirecting the air upwardly therein. If desired, the fan inlet may beconnected to a suitable source of dry hot air or heating means, such forexample as electric heating units, may be directly associated with thefan. In the opposite side wall of the chamber If] an outlet 24 isprovided located in the lower portion of the left-hand wall, and thedrying air in-passing through the chamber i0 is uniformly distributedover the surfaces of the curtains on the frames l8, as indicated by thearrows in Figs. 2 and 3.

As shown best in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, the curtain stretching frames 18 arelocated closely adjacent each other, and accordingly when all of theframes are in their respective uppermost positions the frames areeffective substantially to close the opening in the lower wall of thechamber and thus prevent substantial heat loss through this opening. Inorder to provide for ease of movement 0f-the frames-I8 in the verticaltracks formed by the channels [5 and I6, counterweights are provided forthe frames, a single counterweight being associated with each frame.Referring now to Figs. 1 and 7, each of the counterweights 25 isprovided with a' pair of spaced ears 26 for supporting a rod 21 having apulley 28 journaled thereon between the ears 28. Passing throughthepulley 28 so as to support the counterweight 25, is afiexible strand29 such, for example, as a wire or cord, the opposite ends of the strand29 being connected, as shown in Fig. 1, to the respective upper cornersof the associated frame l8, and the intermediate portions of the strand29 passing over suitable pulleys 30, 3!, and 32 supported adjacent thetop of the drying chamber l0. Thus the strand 29, the left-hand end ofwhich is connected'to the upper left-hand corner of the frame-l8, firstpasses over the pulley 3i], then over the pulley 32, through the pulley28 on the counterweight 25 and over the pulley 3|, the right-hand end ofthe strand being connected to the upper right-hand corner of theframel8.- By means of thearrangement justydescribed, one of the usualcounterweights necessary for counterbalancing-a vertically movableframe, such for example as a' window frame, is dispensedwith, and inorder to prevent twisting of the counterweights 25 the outer end of eachof" the rods..21 is formed to provide an eyelet 33for encircling avertically extending guide rod 34. Oneof these guide rods 34 is providedin connection with each counterweight, the upper end of the guide rodsbeing secured ,to thetop of the chamber l0 and the lower ends of theguide rods 34, as shown in Fig. 1, being supported on an angle iron 35secured to a panel member 36 which, in conjunction with a pair of panelmembers 31' and theright-hand-side member l3 of the supportingframe.(Fig. 8) forms a chamber for receiving the counterweights 25 when theframes l8 are in their uppermost positions as shown best in Fig. 3. f

V Although. the counterweights 25 are so correassets hereinafter, isprovided, as shown best in Figs. 8 and 10, with a facing member 38having a series of regularly spaced indentations 39, and a latchrnernber Allis provided whichis arranged to extend through afsuitableaperture in one flange of the-associated channel member I6 so asselectively to engage the indentations 39 to lock the frame 18 in anydesiredposition.

The latch member 40, as shown in Fig. 10, is slidably mounted in; aguide 4| carried on the upper endof a pivoted lever 42 and is providedwith a backing spring 43 for normally urging the latch rneinber 49, tothe position shown. The

pivoted member 42 is mounted on a pivot pin 44 supported onjthe panelmember I3 and is adapted to be moved from the heavy line position to thebroken line position shown in Fig. 10.

So long "as the pivoted lever 42 occupies its normalheavy line positionit will be apparent that the frame is will be automatically locked inany selected position upon movement thereto by engagement of thespring-pressed latch with one of theindentations 39, the backing spring43 permitting'movement of the frame H? from the selected position uponthe exertion of a force sufficiently great to overcome the lockingforce. Incase it is desired to render the locking means ineffective, itis necessary only to move the pivoted lever A2 to the broken-lineposition, and in order positively to retain the pivoted lever 42 ineither of its" positions as desired, the lower end of the lever isprovided with a spring-pressed catch 45 the inner end of which engagessuitably spaced apertures 46 (Fig. 10) in the panel I3.

Considering now the constructional details of the curtain stretchingframes l8, each of these frames, 'as shown, comprises upper and lowerside members 4? and 48 respectively, and right and left-hand end members49 and 50 respectively,

arranged to form a rigid frame. The upper side member 47 and theleft-hand end member are respectively provided with suitablecurtain-receiving means shown as comprising strips 5|. and 52respectively, of a material known in the art'as card cloth. This cardcloth as shown fest inFig. 9 consists of a plurality of very fineneedles or pointed'members mounted in a supporting base member ofsuitable resilient materialj As. will be understood by those skilled onein the art, the needles or pointed members which form a card cloth aresufliciently fine to permit engagement of a curtain or other suitablefabric therewith without injury to the material of the curtain. Thus bymeans of the strips 5| and 52 edge and one end of the curtain to bestretched may be securedto the upper side member and the left-hand endmember 59 of the frame 18.

In order properly to support the opposite edge ofa curtain to bestretched, regardless of the width of the curtain each of the frames [3is provided with a horizontally extending curtain-engaging bar 53 whichis provided with a similar strip of card cloth 54 extending therealong,and

suitable vertically extending grooves 55a. for receiving the oppositeends of the horizontal bar 53 so as to guide the bar for verticalmovement, and the end members 49 and 59 of the frame constitute hollowmembers so as to provide a space for receiving suitable counterweights55 for counterbalanci'ng the horizontal bar 53 and 3 facilitatingvertical movementthereof; As shown, each of the counterweights 55 isconhected by a flexible strand 56' to one endof the horizontal bar 53,and the strands 56 pass over suitable pulleys -51 journaled in thehollow end members 49 and 50 adjacent the upper ends thereof.

In order to insure that curtainsapplied to the frames l8 will beproperly stretched and dried,

it is necessary at all times to maintain the vertical movable curtainreceiving bar 53 in substantially parallerrelation with the upper sidemember 4'l,nand accordingly the bar 53 is provided with means adaptedautomatically to main tain the bar in such parallel relation. Thismeans, as shown best in Figs. 1,6, and 8, consists of a pair of flexiblestrands 58 and 59 arranged with the opposite ends of each strandpermanently secured to diagonally opposite corners of i the frame [8,with the intermediate portions of the strands passing over and undersuitable double-"grooved pulleys 60 and BI rotatably sup ported ontheopposite ends of the bar 53. As shown, the bar 53 is hollowed out toreceive the pulleys 69 and 6| and is likewise formed with an opening 62(Fig. 6). which extends between the pulleys 60 and 6|, so that the bar53 is hollow throughout substantially its entire length. The flexiblestrand 58, which is secured to an eyelet 53 adjacent the upper left-handcorner of the frame l8, extends through an aperture, Fig. 9, in

the upper edge of the bar 63 and passes under the pulley 60, along theopening 62, over thepulley 9!, and the opposite end of the strand 58 issecured to an eyelet 64 adjacent the lower righthand corner of theframe. Similarly, the strand 59 extends from an eyelet 65 adjacent thelower left-hand corner of the frame, over the pulley 69, along theopening 62, under the pulley 6|, and its other end is secured to aneyelet 66 adjacent the upper right-hand corner of the frame [8.

It will be apparent that whenever an attempt is made to raise theleft-hand end of the bar 53, the strand 59, which passes-over the pulley69 and under the pulley 6|, will cause the righthand end of the bar 53to becorrespondingly raised. Similarly, when the left-hand end of thebar 53 is lowered, the strand 58, which passes over the pulley 6|,effects a similar lowering of the right-hand end of the bar 53. 53 is atall times maintained in parallel relation to the upper side member 41regardless of the vertical position of the bar.-

Although the counterweights 55 serve to main- Thus the bar tain the bar53 in a substantially balanced convided with a plurality of apertures 68adapted to receive the latch tip of a pivoted latch member 69 mounted ona pivot pin 10 carried by the cross bar 53. The'latch member 69 may bewithdrawn from the latching position shown in Fig. 6 when it is desiredto move the bar 53, and in order to limit the backward movement of thelatch member 69 a stop pin H is provided which extends across the top ofthe bar 53 and is arranged abuttingly to engage the upper edge of thebar. 1

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, proper stretching anddrying of curtains and similar materials requires that all'four edges ofthe curtain be rigidly supported, and a'e'co'rdingiy each of the frames18 is provided, in addition to the curtainsecuring strips 5|, 52, and 54which serve tosupport three edges of the curtain, with acurtain-receiving member 12 (Fig. 4) which is adapted to support the endof the curtain opposite from the end secured to the strip of card cloth52 on theleft-hand end member 59. This curtain-receiving member 12con'sistsof a bar adapted to be passed'throu'gh the loop or open seamthat is ordinarily formed along one end of a curtain, and the oppositeends of this bar are formed as shown to engage suitably notchedplatesrespectivelysecured to the upper and lower side members, and 48 ofthe frame l8. Thus, as shown, the upper side member 41 is provided withan angle iron 13 having a vertically extending portion provided with aseries of notches "l4, and the upper end of the bar 12 is provided witha hooked arm 15 arranged selectively to engage any desired one of thenotches 14 depending upon the length of the curtain'to be stretched.Similarly, the lower side member 48 is provided with a notched plate 76,the configuration of which is shown best in Fig. 4, and a horizontallyextending portion of this plate is provided with a series of notches 11for receiving the lower end portion iii of the curtain-receiving memberor bar 12. As shown best in Fig. 4, the notches 11 are arrangedobliquely with respect to the edge of the plate it, so that the forceexerted on the bar 12 by a curtain being stretched tends to urge the endportion 18 of the bar 12 toward the bottom of the notches ll so as topositively retain the bar 12 in the desired position.

In some cases it may be desired to stretch and dry curtains of the typenot provided with an open seam or loop for receiving a bar such as thebar 12, shown in Fig. 4, and accordingly a slightly different form ofcurtain-receiving bar is provided which may be used interchangeably withthe bar 12. This second type of bar, which is shown best in Fig. 5,comprises a body portion l9 which carries a strip of card cloth 80 towhich the curtain may be secured, the upper end of the member beingprovided with a pair of hooked arms 81 for engaging selected ones of thenotches '54 in the notched plate 13, and the lower end of the member 19being provided with extending leg portions 82 for engaging certain ofthe notches 11 in the lower notched plate 16. v

To position a curtain for stretching and drying the same with theimproved apparatus embodying this invention,the curtain-receiving bar 53is adjusted vertically to a position corresponding to the width ofthe-curtain. If the curtain is provided with a loop, bar 12 is passedthrough the curtain loop and is then. placed in the proper notch in theplates 13 and 16. Thereafter the opposite end of the curtain isfastened. to the card cloth strip 52. When the ends of the curtain aresecured the sides are then fastened to the card cloth strips 5| and 54.If bar 19 is employed, the same proce'dure'is followed, except thatafter it has been properly positioned in accordance with the length ofthe curtain, the

end of the curtain is first secured to the card cloth strip 39.Thereafter, as just hereinabove described, the opposite end is securedto the card cloth strip 52 and the sides to the card cloth strips ii and54. As soon asthe curtain is thus secured to the frame the entire frameis slid upwardly along the track formed by the channels l5 and Hi to.the positionshown in Fig. 3, and the curtain is'thus subjected to the.drying ly the frames are so arranged as to provide for easy removal fromthe tracks formed by the channels l5 and I6. Thus, as shown in Fig. 8, aspacing member 83 is provided which forms a part of the frame [8 butwhich is separate from the right-hand end member 49 and extends alongthe edge of the member 49 in abutting relation therewith. The totallength of the frame l8 when considered separately from the spacingmember 83, is less than the distance between the channel members I5 andi6, and accordingly insertion of the frame member into its track may beaccomplished simply by inserting the spacing member 83 into one of thechannels,

inserting the opposite end of the frame l8 into the other channel, andthen bringing the adjacent end of the frame I8 into alignment with thespacing'member 83, whereupon the spacing member 83 may be secured to theend frame member 49. Although any suitable means may be provided forthus securing the spacing member 83 to the end frame member 49, apreferred arrangement is shown in Fig. 11 as comprising a pair ofcooperating connecting members 84 and 85, which are similar inconstruction to ordinary hinge members, and which are provided withalternately arranged cars 86 and 81, respectively, for receiving aconnecting pin. not shown, when members 93 and 49 are brought intoabutting engagement. This connecting pin, upon completion of theassembly,extends through the continuous aperture formed by the ears 86and 87 and securely locks the members 83 and 49 together, it beingunderstood of course that a similar pair of connecting members isprovided on the lower ends of the members 49 and 93. When assembled, thetotal length of the frame 18 plus the width of the spacing member 83 issubstantially equal to the width of the track formed by the channels l5and I6, only sumcient clearancev being provided to permit ready assemblyof the connecting members 84 and 85, and it will be clear that the frameis thus permanently positioned in the channels and can be removedtherefrom only by disconnection of the members 84 and 85.

It will thus be seen that the curtain stretching and drying apparatusembodying the present invention provides for easy manipulation of thecurtains relative to the stretching frames I8, and is so arranged thatthe Various parts will be at all times maintained in correct alignment,all of the parts being so counterbalanced and correlated as to permiteasy adjustment thereof to accommodate curtains of various sizes. Insome cases it may be desirable to provide indicia for indicating thedistance of the curtain-re ceiving bar 53 from the upper side member 41,or for indicating the distance of the bars 12 or F9 from the left-handend member 50. If so desired, this indicia may of course be appliedalong the cross member 61 and along the side members 41 and 48 adjacentthe notched plates 13 and I6.

wh l mrtieula emb dime ts of h i fore contemplated by the appendedclaims to cover an? SW11 mqdifications asfall within the tru p ri and amo the in e t en- I claim:

, 1 A, stretching and drying apparatus comprising a supportingframeincluding channel members disposed in spaced relation to form aplurality of tracks of predetermined width, each ac comnr i s a air ovchannel mbe withthe flanges thereof extending toward each other,

5a drying chamber enclosing the upper portions of said tracks and havingan opening in the botm Wall her of, plurality of curtain stretchingframes adapted to be moved into and out of said chamber through saidopening, the length of each frame being less than the width of itsassociated track whereby one end of each frame may be inserted into oneof said channel members and the frame aligned with its track, spacingmembers adapted to be inserted in the opposite channel of each track forabuttingly engaging the opposite ends of said frames, the total lengthof each frame and its spacing member being substantially equal to thewidth of the tracks, detachable means for securing said spacing membersto said frames to provide for sliding movement of said frames along saidtracks, and individual counterbalancing means associated with each frameto provide for facile movement of said frames into and out of saidchamber along said tracks.

2. In a curtain stretching and drying apparatus, the combination of apair of rigidly mounted channel members disposed in spaced relation toform a track of predetermined width, with the flanges of said channelmembers extending inwardly toward each other, a curtain stretching framethe length of which is less than the width of said track whereby one endof said frame may be inserted into one of said channel members and theframe aligned with said track, a spacing comprising a supporting frameincluding oppositely disposed channel members arranged to formvertically extending tracks, a drying chamber enclosing the upperportions of said tracks and having an opening in the bottom wallthereof,- a plurality of curtain stretching frames mounted in saidvertical tracks for sliding movement through said opening into and outof said drying chamber, pulleys mounted adjacent the upper corners ofsaid drying chamber and counterweights for said frames, each of saidcounterweights having a pulley jourhalled therein for engaging aflexible member passing over said pulleys in said chamber, there being asingle counterweight and a single flexible member associated with eachframe, the opposite ends of each flexible member being secured toopposite sides of the associated frame and each flexible member passingthrough the pulley of the associated counterweight to support saidcounterweight.

4. A curtain stretching and drying apparatus form vertically extendingtracks, a drying chamber enclosing the' l pfiljwportions of said tracksd avi an ope in i th o e wa e of, means for introducing a current of airinto one side of said chamber adjacent thebottomand for exhausting saidair at-the opposite side of said chamber adjacent the bottom, aplurality-of curtain stretching" frames mounted in said vertical tracksfor sliding movement through said opening into and out of, said dryingchamber,

pulleys mounted adjacent the-upper corners of said drying chamber andcounterweights forsaid frames, each of said counterweights having apulley journalled therein for engaging a flexible m r pa ing o e a ru ys na d 1amr her being a in le cqu e weishtand a ngle flex ble, rv a erssociat w th: ac me; th pp sit ends of ea h flexi e mem: ber beingsecured to opposite sides of the associated frame and each flexiblemember passing through the pulley of the associated counterweight tosupport said counterweight.

5. A curtain stretching and. drying apparatus comprising a supportingframe including oppositely disposed channel members arranged to formvertically extending tracks, a drying chamber enclosing the upperportions of said tracks and having an opening in the bottom wallthereof, said chamber being of a sufficient height above the bottom ofsaid tracks to permit the complete withdrawal of said curtain stretchingframes below said chamber whereby curtains may be readily applied to andremoved from said frames, a plurality of curtain stretching framesmounted in said vertical tracks for sliding movement through saidopening into and out of said drying chamber, pulleys mounted adjacentthe upper corners of said drying chamber and counterweights for saidframes, each of said counterweights having a pulley journalled thereinfor engaging a flexible member passing over said pulleys in saidchamber, there being a single counterweight and a single flexible memberassociated with each frame, the opposite ends of each flexible memberbeing secured to opposite sides of the associated frame and eachflexible member passing through the pulley of the associatedcounterweight to support said counterweight. I a

6. A curtain stretching and drying apparatus comprising a supportingframe including a plurality of oppositely disposed channel membersarranged to form vertically extending tracks, a drying chamber enclosingthe upper portions of said tracksand having an opening in the bottomwall thereof, a plurality of curtain stretching frames mounted forindependent sliding movement along said vertical tracks through saidopening, means for counterbalancing said frames to provide for facilemovement thereof into and out of said chamber, means for securingcurtains of various sizes to said stretching frames while said framesare in their lowermost position, said stretching frames when in theiruppermost positions Within said chamber substantially closing saidopening and means including inlet and outlet means adjacent the bottomof said chamber for introducing hot air into said chamber and exhaustingcool air therefrom whereby a current of air passes across the curtainson said stretching frames.

'7. In a curtain stretching and drying apparatus having a plurality ofstretching frames slidable into and out of a drying chamber alongvertical tracks, the combination of counterbalancing means for providingfacile movement of said frames, said counterbalancing means including asingle counterweight for each frame, a pulley journalled in eachcounterweight, a single flexible strand for each weight, the oppositeends of said strand being respectively connected to the opposite uppercorners of the asso'ciated frame and an intermediate portion offsaidstrand passing through said pulley on said counterweight, pulleysfixedly mounted for rotation supporting other portions of said strand,and guiding means for said counterweight arranged to prevent twisting ofsaid weight during vertical movement thereof.

8, In a curtain stretching and drying apparatus having a plurality ofstretching frames slidable into and out of a drying chamber alongvertical tracks, the combination of counterbalanc- 'ing means forproviding facile movement of said HARRY ROSENTHAL.

